PACT Board members criticize Ivey over failure to communicate with PACT parents

MONTGOMERY -- State Treasurer Kay Ivey was criticized today by members of the Prepaid Affordable College Tuition Board for ignoring an attorney general's opinion aimed at improving communications with PACT holders.

Dr. Richard Huckaby of Lanett, Patti Lambert of Decatur and a spokesman for Lt. Gov. Jim Folsom said Ivey had not followed an advisory opinion from Attorney General Troy King's office.

Folsom, also a PACT Board member, got an opinion from the attorney general's office that said any mail-outs from PACT, which is overseen by Ivey's office, could include the website address for Save Alabama Pact.

The statewide grassroots group was credited convincing the Legislature to appropriate nearly $548 million over the next 17 years go to keep the state's promise to pay tuition for 44,000 students.

Huckaby and Lambert were both leaders in the Save Alabama Pact movement before they were appointed to the PACT Board.

Huckaby said today that Ivey had fought the group at every step in gaining access to communicate with PACT contract holders through the treasurer's office.

"We asked her many many many times," he said. "She had her general counsel write us and tell us she could not provide private information (in mail-outs)," he said. "We asked to be included in mailings and were denied that."

Finally, Huckaby said Folsom asked for the opinion from King's office, which gave approval for Save Alabama Pact to have a link on the PACT site and be listed on all PACT mailings.

Chip Hill, a spokesman for Folsom, said the lieutenant governor twice made motions that were approved by the PACT Board to include Save Alabama Pact's contact information in all future PACT mailings.

"I think everyone was under the impression that the treasurer would abide by the decision of the board," he said. "I don't understand why she continues to antagonize these parents."

Ivey is the Republican nominee facing Folsom in the lieutenant governor's race in November.

Huckaby said a critical financial report on the status of PACT that was mailed earlier this year did not include the Save Alabama Pact information, nor did an Aug. 21 mail-out on "New PACT Rules."

"Nothing has changed," he said. "How critical is that in this point in time I don't think she (Ivey) is attuned to PACT holders needs this year. Kay Ivey just doesn't want to follow the lead set down in a motion passed by the Board of Directors."

Ivey did not immediately return a phone call, but Deputy Treasurer Vickie Locke said the office opted for a postcard size mailing to save money, limiting space for information.

While the postcard did not carry the Save Alabama Pact website address, it did carry the website address for the PACT program, she said.

"When a PACT purchaser follows that link, they are immediately directed to a page that has the Save Alabama Pact address prominently featured," Locke added.

Huckaby said he continues to receive e-mails daily from PACT-holders who don't understand the impact of the new legislation.

He said many of those questions could be answered by Save Alabama Pact, which will be returning to lobby the Legislature again in 2011.

Lambert said she was disappointed in the treasurer's inaction.

"We fought hard for that and they used every excuse in the world," she said. "It's just kind of heartbreaking to me. Just another thing . . ."

Huckaby and Lambert predicted the legislative fix in 2010 would be short-lived, mainly because of continuing double-digit tuition increases at Auburn University and the University of Alabama. Sixty-five percent of PACT-holders attend those two schools.

Huckaby said under current conditions, tuition is probably guaranteed only through the 2014 or 2015 school year unless the Legislature makes further revisions in the 2010 law.